Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com

WHITTIER, Calif. – The Whittier College women's basketball team saw their losing skid move to twelve games Thursday evening as they fell 64-53 in the Graham Athletic Center to the Tigers of Occidental College.

With the loss the Poets now drop to 0-12, 0-4 SCIAC, while Occidental improves to 8-5, 2-3 SCIAC. 

The game started off slowly with one point being scored in the first four minutes of play coming on a free throw from Priscilla Rodriguez (East Los Angeles, Calif.).  Whittier extended their lead soon after that to 9-0 after back to back three pointers from Margo Campos (Norwalk, Calif.) and Nicole Ruffino (Las Vegas, NV) and a jumper from Danielle Hays (San Diego, Calif.).  Oxy managed to pull within one with their own run but the Purple & Gold were able to weather the storm and maintain a slight lead the rest of the half until the 1:23 mark when the Tigers tied the game up at 25 after a jumper from Tiffany Kho.  Then with under a minute to play, Oxy capitalized off of two missed three pointers, which they cashed in on with two layins by Eda Graham and Kho giving them a 29-25 advantage at the break.

The Poets came out of the half with an 8-2 run to pull within one 34-33 and then regained the lead two minutes later thanks to a layup by Campos and a jumper and free throw from Danielle Quinones (Marin County, Calif.).  But Oxy would continue responding and would match Whittier basket for basket making it difficult for WC to cut into the deficit. 

The Tigers would go out in front 55-46 with 3:12 to play in the game and would move the differential to ten with under a minute to play after a pair of free throws from Michelle Naito-Lo, but it would be the key makes from the charity stripe down the stretch that allowed Oxy to escape with the victory.

For the game, Whittier shot a season low 13% from three point territory and 29% from the field, while Oxy finished with a 38% shooting night, while shooting 29% from deep.  Rebounding proved to be a major factor late in the game with the Tigers holding a 53-40 advantage on the glass, while getting 15 second chance points compared to Whittier's three. 

Whittier did however get help from their bench totaling 36 points thanks to a game high 18 points on 6-10 shooting from Campos, while Hays chipped in with 12 and five boards.  Despite just having five points in a starting role, Kaylah Alexander (Altoona, PA) was able to haul in eight boards, with Rodriguez gathering six. 

On Oxy's side, Elizabeth Messick gathered a double double with 18 points and 12 boards, while totaling five blocks and three assists.  Brittni Walker also found a double double finishing with 10 points and 10 rebounds, and Kho and Crystal Goodwin each had nine points apiece.

Whittier remains at home this Saturday, January 11 when they host Pomona-Pitzer beginning at 7:00pm.